Boston Public Radio

Rooney pointed out similarities between the Kobe Bryant tragedy and Stephen Colbert's family.

In Ezra Klein’s book “Why We’re Polarized,” he explores the reasons and history behind America's political divisions.

The former Mass. Education Secretary said he expects a more severe response from the university once an internal investigation is concluded.

On Wednesday, Dershowitz said that advanced a controversial legal theory in which he claimed a president could invite electoral interference from a foreign power to aid them because it would be in the public interest.

Trump defense attorney Alan Dershowitz argued in the impeachment trial the president is allowed to engage in a quid pro quo.

What would the former Patriots player and convicted murderer have been like without football brain injuries?

Today on Boston Public Radio: Washington Post reporter Annie Linskey discussed former Vice President Joe Biden's place in the vast field of 2020 Democratic candidates for president. Andrea Cabral discussed the grim reality that awaits Paul Manafort at Rikers Island. Marco Werman and Daniel Ofman of PRI's The World discussed their recent series on millennial Russians, who have only ever known the country under the leadership of Vladimir Putin. Harvard Business School historian Nancy Koehn broke down the movement to get Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill. Science correspondent Heather Goldstone examined President Donald Trump's climate change comments from his meeting with Prince Charles. Jonathan Alsop, founder of Boston's Wine School previewed his upcoming Boston Talks at WGBH next week: Rosé All Day.

Today on Boston Public Radio: While campaigning in New Hampshire, Joe Biden emphasized his plans to try to work with congressional Republicans if he wins the presidency in 2020. We opened up the lines and asked listeners: Is Biden being smart, and appealing to Republicans and independents who have tired of President Trump? Or will he alienate progressive Democrats and younger voters? Maine could soon be the seventh state in the nation to legalize assisted suicide. Medical ethicist Arthur Caplan discussed. Caplan is the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Chair and director of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU Langone Medical Center, and the co-host of the "Everyday Ethics" podcast. In the aftermath of mass shootings there is always talk about passing laws about background checks, high-capacity magazines, and improving policies and treatment for mental health. Is it time to add silencers to that list? National security expert Juliette Kayyem weighed in. Kayyem is an analyst for CNN and on the faculty of Harvard's Kennedy School. A new FRONTLINE documentary takes a look at how law enforcement is changing its approach to sex trafficking. We spoke to filmmaker Lauren Mucciolo. Federal prosecutors are investigating the Massachusetts prison system thanks to reports from the New England Center for Investigative Reporting. Reporter Jenifer McKim joined us. WGBH's executive arts editor Jared Bowen reviewed the new Elton John biopic "Rocketman" and other new movies, plays, and cultural events around town. We opened up the lines and asked listeners about Trump's trip the U.K.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened up the lines and asked our listeners: Is it time to get rid of the SAT? Trenni Kusnierek, NBC Sports Boston anchor and reporter, examined the debate over putting up netting in baseball stadiums to protect fans from being hit by foul balls. Carol Rose, executive director of ACLU of Massachusetts, discussed the ROE Act and other efforts to protect abortion access in the state. The Boston Globe’s travel writer, Christopher Muther, told us about his favorite new travel destination: a cat sanctuary in Hawaii. Sue O’Connell, host of NECN’s “The Take,” looked at the legacy of the Stonewall Riots 50 years on. CNN’s John King, host of “Inside Politics,” shared the latest national news. We opened up the lines and asked you about whether airlines should get rid of carry-on bags to make it easier for people to evacuate planes in case of emergencies.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Our political roundtable with analyst Charlie Chieppo and former state treasurer Shannon O’Brien tackled the latest headlines. Charles Sennott, founder of The GroundTruth Project, discussed President Donald Trump’s state visit to the U.K. We opened up the lines and asked listeners about the movement to go flightless (no, we’re not talking about penguins.) Some people are eschewing flights in favor of ground transportation like trains out of concerns about the environmental impacts of air travel. Would you do the same? Reverend Irene Monroe and Reverend Emmett Price shared their thoughts on Robert F. Smith vacating student loan debt for graduates of Morehouse College and other topics on “All Revved Up.” Television expert Bob Thompson looked at the return of Deadwood, Ava DuVernay’s new film about the Central Park Five, and other must-see moments in TV this week. Then we opened up the lines and asked listeners about a new study on the adverse health effects of binge-watching TV. To celebrate Pride Month, poet Richard Blanco shared two of his own poems about growing up gay on the latest installment of “Village Voice.”

Today on Boston Public Radio: Senate President Karen Spilka discussed charter schools, a bill on sex education, and more. Author Ben Mezrich shared his latest book: “Bitcoin Billionaires: A True Story of Genius, Betrayal, and Redemption.” It’s our favorite sporting event of the year: the National Spelling Bee! We opened up the lines and tested our listeners on their spelling chops. Emily Rooney, host of Beat the Press, shared her thoughts on a decades-old serial killer case. Former state secretary of education Paul Reville looked at a proposal from The College Board to add an “adversity score” to a student’s SAT scores. Homeland security expert Juliette Kayyem analyzed former Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s statements to the public earlier this week. Playwright Ryan Landry examined the culture of the “beach read.” Louise Riley Sacco and Michael Frank of the Museum of Bad Art in Somerville faced off on our Friday News Quiz.